Packaging apparatus

ABSTRACT

A commodity feeding apparatus for aligning and selectively feeding a commodity into a packaging station, the feeding apparatus having two advancing systems, one advancing faster than the other and moving selected of the commodities at a faster rate to separate the selected commodities from the remainder thereof and advance same into the packaging station.

United States Patent 1191 Hoffmann et al.

1 51 Jan. 30, 1973 PACKAGING APPARATUS Inventors: Wolfgang l-loffmann,Beaconsfield, Quebec; Paul Wick, Valois, Quebee, both of CanadaAssignee: Canadian International Paper Company, Montreal, Quebec, CanadaFiled: Feb. 1, 1971 Appl. 110.; 111,580

Related U.S. Application Data Division of Ser. No. 734,029, June 3,1968, Pat. No. 3,579,956.

U.S. (ll ..198/34 Int. Cl ..B65g 47/26 Field of Search ..l98/24, 30, 34,35; 53/159,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,l65,87l 1/1965 Roth153/159 x 2,932,929 4/1960 Fahrenbach.... ..53/159 2,878,919 3/1959Jones ..19s/34 Primary ExaminerEdward A. Sroka Attorney-Alan Swabey [57]ABSTRACT A commodity feeding apparatus for aligning and selectivelyfeeding a commodity into a packaging station, the feeding apparatushaving two advancing systems, one advancing faster than the other andmoving selected of the commodities at a faster rate to separate theselected commodities from the remainder thereof and advance same intothe packaging station.

16 Claims, 17 Drawing Figures PATENTEDJAN30 ms 3.713.526 sum 01 0F 13INVENTORS Wolgung HOFFMANN Paul WICK ATTORNEY PATENTEU JAN 3 0 I975SHEET C2 [1F 13 W SN INVENTORS Wolfgang HOFFMANN Poul NICK ATTORNEY QQNvml

PATENTEUJANIiO r975 SHEET D LUF 13 INVENTORS Wolfgang HOFFMAN" PaulVIICK ATTORNEY f PATENTEUJAH 3 0 I975 SHEET OSUF 13 m A m hlrhmmkm y 0INVENTORS Wolfgang HOFFMANN Poul WICK A TTORNEY PATENTEUJANBO I975 OBUF13 SHEET INVENTORS Wolfgang HOFFMANN Poul WICK ATTORNEY PATENTEUJAHBOI975 SHEET 080F113 INVENTORS Wolfgang HOFFMANN Paul WICK A TTORNEKPATENTEUJAN 30 I975 SHEET USUF 13 I FIG /4 w-im] INVENTORS ng HOFFMANNPoul WICK ATTORNEY PATENTED JAN 3 0 I975 SHEET lOUF 13 Paul WICK {1 C 74J;.7 if:

ATTORNEY FIG /6 menu-10m 30 I975 sum 11 [IF 13 INVENTORS WolfgangHOFFMANN Paul WICK A TTOR NE Y PATENTED JAN 30 I975 SHEET lEUF 13 mg &wt w w .Nh MI QR wmw mam. V r 0 $0 W a .H row W llllh l II II N r Qmwvll mm llflfl HUI! v.3 L O u 4 mm INVENTORS Wolfgang HOFFMANN Paul wlCKj,

PATENTEDJAHSO 1913 3,713,526

sum 13 0F 13 FIG 24 m F/GT 25 506 INVENTORS Wolfgang HOFFMANN Poul WICKA TTORNEY PACKAGING APPARATUS This application is a continuingdivisional application on applicants copending U.S. application, Ser.No. 734,029, filed June 3, 1968, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,579,956 issued May25, 1971.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This inventionrelates to a wrapping apparatus.

More particularly, one aspect of this invention relates to an' apparatusfor feeding a predetermined number of selected commodities from an arrayof such conveyors and presenting such commodities from an array of suchconveyors and presenting such commodities to a wrapping device forwrapping the selected commodities.

2. Description of Prior Art In the art of wrapping commodities, thereare various known devices and methods which present commodities to awrapping apparatus, which commodities are to be packaged in a wrappedbundle. Part of the'problem in attaining and retaining a high speedwrapping operation is the speed at which the commodities are presentedto the wrapping device for wrapping. It has been common in this art tofeed an array of commodities to a wrapping device by conveying means andpushing a predetermined number of packages from the conveying means intothe wrapping apparatus, using a reciprocating pusher or the like. Inother methods and apparatus, such as those shown in US Pat. No.2,013,555 and U.S. Pat. No. 2,869,297, commodities are fed to a wrappingoperation along conveyors, where they are placed in arrays, with theconveyor directly advancing the commodities to a wrapping operationwithout the commodities having been prearranged by other suitablecomponents prior to being fed to the wrapping components.

It is most desirable, in feeding commodities to a wrapping apparatus, tobe able to maintain a high speed feed, which is accurate and presentsthe commodities to the wrapping apparatus whereby the first wrappingoperation can be carried out without preliminary steps of aligning orawaiting the desired number of commodities to be placed in the wrappingapparatus. Further, in order to ensure a high speed operation, it isalso desirable that the commodities be preselected into arrays to bewrapped just prior to introduction into wrapping operation whereby anygiven array does not have to travel any sufficient distance prior tobeing wrapped, in order to avoid possible disruption of the array. Tothis end, applicant hasdeveloped an improved feeding apparatus forpresenting a prealigned and selected number of commodities to a wrappingapparatus whereby the wrapping apparatus may commence an initialwrapping operation without preliminary steps or the necessary equipment,to maintain any aligning or other operations. Further, the improvedapparatus of this invention permits a very fast feeding operation, thuspermitting the total wrapping operation to proceed at a faster rate ofspeed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with one aspect of thisinvention, there is provided an apparatus for aligning and selectivelyfeeding a commodity, from a plurality of such commodities, to a wrappingapparatus which includes LII first advancing means for advancing aplurality of commodities, means for aligning said commodities, whileadvancing, into predetermined alignment, selecting means for selecting apredetermined number of aligned commodities, second advancing means foradvancing the selected commodities and presenting said commodities to awrapping device, said second advancing means advancing said commoditiesto said wrapping device at a rate faster than the advancement of saidcommodities by said first advancing means, means for preventingunselected commodities from advancing to said wrapping device when saidsecond advancing means is advancing said selected commodities.

In accordance with an alternate aspect of this invention, a furtherembodiment of applicants apparatus includes a pair of spaced apart upperand lower commodity feeding systems, each system being adapted to supplyan array of commodities to the wrapping apparatus, and including firstadvancing means for advancing a plurality of commodities toward saidwrapping apparatus, means for aligning a plurality of commodities intoan aligned array while being advanced by advancing means, said lowersystem including second advancing and selecting means for selecting andfeeding to said wrapping apparatus, in the feeding direction of saidfirst advancing means a predetermined number of the aligned array ofcommodities at a speed greater than the speed of advancement of thecommodities by said first advancing means, said upper system includingsecond advancing and selecting means for advancing and selecting, in thefeeding direction of said first advancing means, a predetermined numberof the aligned array of commodities at a speed greater than the speed ofadvancement of said first advancing means, said upper and lower systemseach including means for preventing unselected aligned commodities fromadvancing past a leading point at which said commodities were selectedby said second means, first retaining and supporting means for receivingthe selected advanced aligned array from said second means of said uppersystem, second retaining means for retaining and supporting a'selectedaligned array, said second retaining and supporting means being locatedin operative relationship to said first retaining and supporting meansand to the point of advancement of an aligned array by saidsecondadvancing means of said lower system, first placing means forplacinga selected aligned array from said first retaining and supportingmeans onto said second retaining and supportingmeans, second placingmeans for placing an aligned array from said second retaining andsupporting means into juxtaposition with an array of commoditiesadvanced by said second advancing means from 9 said lower system, meansfor operating said second advancing means of said upper and lowersystems in unison whereby said lower system advances a selected alignedarray to said wrapping apparatus and said second advancing means of saidupper system advances means in conjunction with said second placingmeans whereby said first placing means places a selected alignedcommodity from said first retaining means onto said second retainingmeans after said second placing means has removed an array therefrom.

According to a further aspect of this invention, there is provided amethod of aligning and feeding an array of commodities from a pluralityof unaligned commodities which includes the steps of providing a sourceof unaligned commodities, advancing the unaligned commodities at apredetermined rate of speed, causing said commodities to be aligned intoan array of aligned commodities, while advancing said commodities,selecting a predetermined number of aligned commodities and advancingthe selected predetermined aligned commodities to a wrapping operation,while preventing further aligned unselected commodities from advancingbeyond the leading point at which the commodities were selected, thestep of advancing the commodities after selection being carried out at afaster rate of speed than the speed at which the commodities areadvancing, and presenting the advanced commodities to a wrappingapparatus.

In a preferred embodiment of the method of the present invention, twofeeding operations are carried on simultaneously whereby juxtaposedlayers of commodities may be fed to a wrapping apparatus. To this end,the method includes the steps of providing two spaced apart parallelsources of unaligned commodities, advancing the unaligned commoditiesfrom each source at a corresponding predetermined rate of speed to awrapping operation, causing the commodities from each source to bealigned into rows of commodities, selecting and advancing a firstpredetermined number of commodities to one of said sources and feedingthe selected commodities to a wrapping operation from said one sourceand halting the movement of commodity at that point thereby to form afirst aligned array, selecting and advancing a correspondingpredetermined number of commodities from said other source and advancingthe selected commodities to an intermediate zone and halting themovement of the thus advanced commodity in said intermediate zone,thereby to provide a second aligned array, providing a third alignedarray of a corresponding predetermined number of commodities from saidother source, placing said third, array in juxtaposition with the firstarray of I predetermined number of commodities, presenting the combinedjuxtaposed pre-aligned arrays of commodities to a wrapping operation,transferring said second array from said intermediate zone to providesaid third array, and repeating the steps sequentially.BRIEF DESCRIPTIONOF THE DRAWINGS Further features, objects and advantages will be evidentfrom the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment of thepresent invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings inwhich:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of a single system feeding device, inconjunction with a wrapping apparatus;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a partial side elevation of a two-system feeding deviceaccording to a further aspect of this invention, and shown incombination with a wrapping apparatus; (showing the first operationposition);

FIG. 4 is a side elevation of the device of FIG. 3 taken along the line44 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the apparatus of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a side elevation of the apparatus of FIG. 3 showing the secondsequence in the operation of the device;

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 6 but showing the third sequence ofoperation;

FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 6 but showing the fourth sequence ofoperation;

FIG. 9 is a view taken from the right hand side of the apparatus of FIG.3 but showing the arrangement of a preferred drive system for operatingvarious components in time-related sequence;

FIG. 10 is a side elevation of the wrapper storage and feeding system;

FIG. 11 is a top plan view of the device shown in FIG.

FIG. 12 is a section taken along the line 12-12 of FIG. 10;

FIG. 13 is a section taken along the line 13-13 of FIG. 11;

FIG. 14 is a plan view of FIG. 13; 4

FIG. 15 is a section taken along the FIG. 11;

FIG. 16 is a section taken along the like 16-16 of FIG. 15;

FIG. 17 is a side elevation of a portion of the gluing apparatus.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In the drawings, like referencenumerals designate like parts; and the various frame members supportingvarious components are indicated by the letter F.

Referring to the drawings, the apparatus includes an upper zone orstation defined in part by a supporting surface 25 and guides 56 oneither side thereof, a downwardly movable elevator platform 138, andlower station or zone 142.

A first component to be described is the wrapper storage and wrapperfeeding mechanism. This mechanism is located at the upper station,-mounted on supporting platform 25.

The platform 25 is mounted to a frame member F, with guides 22 definingtherebetween a wrapper storage area for wrapper blanks W. The guide 22,in the forward direction of feeding of the wrapper blank (towards theelevator platform) is spaced from the SUP? porting surface 25, adistance equivalent to the thicknessof one blank. This same guide 22includes spacers 23 extending in the vertical direction of the guide andterminating a short distance above the terminal point of the bottom ofthe forward guide. This arrangement will permit, as shown in thedrawings, all but the last or lowermost wrapper blank W to be spacedslightly outwards from the forward guide 22 and the lowermost blank tobe exposed to the opening between the guide 22 and supporting surface 25and the second lowermost blank to be in a position to be pre-selected.

The wrapper storage area is constructed at the rear end of the storagearea, to include a manual adjustment for raising the trailing end of thewrapper blanks in order to compensate for warped or distorted sheets ofwrapper and in order to insure the positive positioning of the leadingedge of the lowermost blank for feeding like 15-15 of between theaperture of the front guide 22 and the supporting surface 25. The deviceconsists of an adjustable spindle 27 and a pivotably mounted supportingrod and a bearing 29. The spindle 27 contains a spring 30.

The wrapper selecting and advancing means, as previously mentioned, is afour-component assembly. The first component comprises a pair ofspaced-apart suction cups 31 each mounted on a shaft 32. Shaft 32 isconnected to the suction cups by means of a lever 33, permittingvertical movement of the suction cups 31. Operating in conjunction withthe suction cups are means for selecting the lowermost wrapper blankengaged by the suction cups comprising a pair of U- shaped brackets 34.Brackets 34 are connected to arm 35 mounted, in turn, on a movable shaft36. Shaft 36 is supported by parallel slide members 37 sliding in a bar38. Shaft 36 is connected through a connecting rod 39 to a movable arm40 which is pivotally mounted on shaft 41. Shaft 41 is connected tolever 42, whose movement is controlled by a central or common drivesystem, hereinafter described. Lever 43 is connected via connecting rod44 to a drive lever 45 which rotates on shaft 41. Lever 45 is driventhrough the common drive system, as hereinafter described.

The second component for advancing a selected wrapper by theabove-described means comprises a pair of spaced-apart drive rollers 46and 46a mounted on rotatably shafts 47 and 47a driven by a drive systemhereinafter described. Operating in conjunction with the last-mentionedmeans is a third component comprising a further pair of spaced-apartdrive rollers 48 and 48a, mounted on rotating shafts 49 and 49a. Shafts48 and 48a are driven by means hereinafter described.

The fourth component of the wrapper advancing assembly comprises aspring-loaded clip assembly adapted to advance the wrapper the finaldistance required to the elevator platform at the upper station of theapparatus. The spring clip assembly comprises a U- shaped spring 50mounted on a parallel slide mechanism 51 which in turn is driven by aconnecting arm 52 through a pivotally mounted shaft 53, the shaft beingrotated by a lever 54 driven by the central drive system hereinafterdescribed. Shaft 54 is mounted to a sub-frame member F, by means ofbrackets 55.

The upper platform of station of the apparatus includes guides extendingfrom the wrapper storage area to either lateral side of the elevatorplatform, the guides comprising U-shaped members 56, with stops 57defining the limit of the forward movement of the wrapper advanced bythe wrapper selecting and advancing means.

Operating in conjunction with the wrapper selecting and advancingmechanism, according to one embodiment of this invention, isglue-applying means adapted to apply glue to selected portions of thewrapper as it is advanced. According to this embodiment, the glueapplying means is mounted beneath the supporting platform 25 in thedirection of feed of the wrapper blank and comprises a pair of gluebaths 65 containing glue 66 therein. Any suitable means for feeding theglue into the baths and for maintaining the level of the glue thereinmay be employed.

Rotating in the glue baths 65 are a pair of glue wheels 67 journalled ona shaft 53 driven by means hereinafter 1 described. Glue wheels 67 pickup, on their surface,

glue from the bath. The amount of glue picked up by the wheels 67 isregulated by a doctor blade 69. Operating in conjunction with andcontacting the glue wheels 67 are rotatable glue applying segments 70connected to the shaft 47a. Supporting surface 25 contains a pluralityof apertures therein, permitting segments 70 to contact the underside ofan advancing wrapper fed by the previously described means. Operating inconjunction with the glue applying segments 70 are rollers 71 adapted tomaintain the advancing wrapper in contact with the glue applyingsegments as the wrapper is advanced. Rollers 71 are mounted on shaft 47just mentioned.

The glue applying segments are so constructed that their glue applyingsurfaces correspond to the width of the wrapper portion to be coatedwith adhesive. Thus, the length of the arch described by the glueapplying segments preferably equals the width of the portion of thewrapper to be treated with glue. Shaft 47, connected to sub-assemblyframe members, is spring loaded by means of springs (not shown) tomaintain downward pressure on the wrapper as the wrapper is advanced.The shaft 470 is also suspended to maintain a proper distance betweenthe rollers 67 and the glue segments 70.

The glue system may be adjusted to permit raising or lowering of theglue system. To this end, a manually adjustable pin 73, mounted in abracket 74 connected to the frame abuts a sloping block 75 connected tothe glue bath 65, on one side thereof. The glue bath 65 is mounted to aframe by means of a manually adjustable threaded screw arrangement 76,normally resting in a position slightly spaced from the frame.

On the opposite side of the glue bath 65 to the adjustable member 73, isa conical shaped pin 77 connected to a bracket 79 mountedto the frame,with the glue bath 65 being connected to the pin by means of a hollowbushing 78. In this manner, by tightening the adjustable pin 73, theglue bath may be adjusted.

The commodity wrapping device of the apparatus includes a downwardlymovable elevator platform 138 operating between upper station or zone 25and a lower station or zone 142. The upper station and platform is thelevel at which a wrapper is fed into position on the elevator platform.Guides 144 and 146, located between the upper and lower stations, serveto juxtapose opposed lateral side portions of the wrapper blank to thecommodity as the latter is lowered on the wrapper blank on the elevatorplatform 138. Elevator platform 138 is driven by suitable means,hereinafter described, with guides 137 serving to guide the elevatorplatform 138 as it descends.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, there is provided a pusher P adaptedto operate in conjunction with the elevator platform 138 wherein acommodity placed on a wrapper W is lowered onto elevator platform 138with the pusher P aiding in retaining and lowering the commodity betweenthe upper and lower stations. Pusher P comprises a pressurized operatedpiston assembly including housing 148, piston rod 150, which mounts ashoe 152 and guides 154 guiding the lowering of the piston rod 150.

The second component for folding in additional portions of the wrapperinto juxtaposition with the transverse sides of the commodity is mountedat the lower station and comprises two pairs of movable arms 162 oneither transverse side of the lower station. The movement of arms 162 istied in with the overall operation of the apparatus, and these armsserve to juxtapose first transverse side wrapper portions, extendingfrom the lateral side panels of the wrapper, to the transverse sides ofthe commodity. Also, mounted at the lower station are third foldingmeans for juxtaposing the bottom portion of wrapper material, extendingfrom both transverse sides of the wrapper, to overlie the folded-intransverse wrapper portions. These third folding means comprise aT-shaped bar 139, operating in conjunction with the lowering of theelevator platform whereby after the arms 162 fold in the firsttransverse wrapper flaps, T-shaped bars 139 are actuated to foldupwardly the bottom transverse wrapper portions to overlay thejuxtaposed wrapper portions.

Mounted to the rear at the lower station of the wrapping apparatus,there is provided means for advancing a partially wrapped commodity offthe elevator platform 138 comprising a pusher assembly consisting ofpusher rod 156 mounting at one end a push plate 158. Rod 156 is movablyjournalled in housing 160 connected to frame F. The pusher rod 156 isactuated by means hereinafter described.

The wrapping device, in the embodiments illustrated, further includesmeans for folding down the top wrapper panel to the top of thecommodity, and means for juxtaposing a manufacturers flap to a furtherportion of the wrapper, according to the teachings of our copendingapplication Ser. No. 772,603, filed Apr. 19, 1968. Briefly summarized,this includes roller 166 adapted to juxtapose a top panel tothecommodity and piston assembly 168 operating on arm 170 (FIG. 1) whichjuxtaposes the manufacturers flap. The partially wrapped commodities,after arriving at the lower station on the elevator platform 138 areadvanced by pusher means 156 and 158 along platform 142 into engagementwith a pair of spaced-apart moving belts 172 which then take control ofthe commodity and perform the closing of the manufacturers flapaccording to said copending application.

Referring now to the embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIG. 1,the feeding mechanism includes a supporting surface 202 defined by amovable conveyor belt which is adapted to advance commodities towardsthe wrapping device above described. As shown in FIG. 2, a plurality orradially arranged commodities, for ex ample tin cans 204, are placed onthe supporting surface from a prior operation, e.g. a filling operation,and advanced in the direction of the arrow shown in FIG. 2.

Conveyor 202 is mounted on supports 206 con nected to the frame F, andincludes side guides 208 connected thereto by supports 207, forpreventing commodities from falling off its surface. Oscillating meansdefined by movable side sections 210 located between the guides 208 areadapted to juggle the commodities, on the conveyor 202, to aid inaligning them in the alignment means subsequently described. Plates 210are oscillated by means of shaft 212 connected to the plates 210 throughhousing 214. In turn, shafts 212 are oscillated or vibrated by suitablemeans (not shown).

Means for aligning the commodities as they are advancing on the conveyor202 comprises a plurality of spaced-apart vertical guides 216 mountedabove the conveyor by means of supports 218 connected to the sides 208.In this manner, the commodities as they are advanced on the conveyor 202are subject to minor oscillations or vibrations from plates 210 andplaced into the guide channels by adjacent guides 216 whereby thecommodities form prealigned rows for a subsequent operation.

The means for selecting and advancing a predetermined number ofcommodities to the sheet wrapper W on the elevator platform 138 as shownin detail in FIGS. 1 and 2 comprises a support 220 carrying theplurality of fingers 222, each finger being adapted to engage a row ofaligned commodities in the guide channels defined by guides 216, andadvance them onto the wrapper W. Operating in conjunction with support220 is a barrier means defined by a pivotably mounted arm 224 pivoted bymeans of pins 226 mounted in supports 206. Arm 224 mounts a flatsupporting plate 228, adapted to bridge the gap between the terminalpoint of advancement of the conveyor 202 and the wrapper W on theelevator platform 138 at the upper station. Plate 228 also serves as abarrier means as will be described in greater detail.

The selecting and advancing means 220 operates from a central drivesystem (described hereinafter) through arm 230 and rod 232 whereby rod232 causes support 220 with fingers 222 to be lowered into a positionfor engaging a plurality of commodities, while arm 230 will causeadvancement of the support 220 with fingers 222 to advance thecommodities through the guide channels and onto the wrapper W. To thisend, support surface 220 is pivotably mounted on arm 230 by means ofpivot 234.

The arm 224 and supporting surface 228 are timed to operate inconjunction with the support advancement of arm 230, by suitable means,whereby when fingers 222 engage aligned commodities in the guidechannels defined by guides 216, support surface 228 is in a horizontalplane and in juxtaposition with wrapper W whereby the commodities may beadvanced onto the wrapper. On the return stroke of the arm 230 wherebyrod 232 is actuated to lift fingers 222 from the guide channels (to thelevel shown in FIG. 1) the supporting surface 228 returns to theposition shown in FIG. 1 thereby preventing non-selected commoditiesfrom advancing to the wrapper W.

The central drive system for operating the various means of theapparatus described above is shown in FIG. 1, and comprises a rotatablyshaft 238 driven by an electric motor, as hereinafter described. Mountedon the shaft 238 are a plurality of eccentric cams serving to operatevarious components. Thus, for example, operating in conjunction with cam240 is am 242 rotatably journalling rod 232 whereby the eccentricmovement of the cam 240 causes arm 242 to move up and downwardly, thuscausing fingers 222 to move upwardly and downwardly intocommodity-engaging and commodity-disengaging positions. Arm 230 isrotatably journalled on connecting shaft 244, connected to an eccentriccam mounted on rotatable shaft 238 whereby the eccentric cam, whenrotated, will cause arm 230 to operate in forward and return strokes,thus advancing and returning supporting surfaces 220 and fingers 222 ina commodity advancing and return stroke.

In a like manner, the elevator platform is operated through arm 246 andlinkage 248 connected at one end to a guide 137. The other end of arm246 is connected to a further eccentric cam mounted on shaft 238 wherebymovement of the cam will cause movement of the arm 246.

The central control system described above, is further illustrated inFIG. 9 and will be described in greater detail with reference to afurther embodiment of the invention.

The apparatus shown in the drawings also includes detecting andsafeguard means which are explained as follows. Detecting means 260mounted above the con veyor 202 is adapted to determine the feed of thecommodities through guide channels defined by guide 216. Detecting means260 comprises a plurality of sensing fingers 262 extending over theguide channels and should there be no commodity feed through the guidechannel, the detecting means will prevent feeding of a wrapper blank. Afurther detecting means 264, on the same principle, as detecting means260, and which includes fingers 266 also serves to indicate the presenceof irregularly aligned commodities in the guide channels for theselecting and advancing means 220 and 222 to operate.

Thus, if an irregularly aligned commodity, such as a fallen can, passesby detecting means 260, the detecting means 264 will override the drivemeans of shaft 238 and thus prevent the sequence of operations for thevarious components to take place.

The conveyor drive means, and the means for driving the feed rollers ofthe wrapper feeding system, and the central drive means are shown inFIG. 2. This comprises an electric motor 270, driving belt 272 which inturn is connected to a reducer 274 through a shaft and pulleyarrangement. Reducer 274, at one end, drives sprocket 276 rotating chain278, which in turn, is connected to a reducer 280. Reducer 280 drivesconveyor 202 through shaft 282 through a chain drive system.

Reducer 274 also serves to drive the shafts 47 and 47a through sprocket284 and chain 286. Shafts 49 and 49a are driven by the rotation of shaft47 which includes a pulley mounting a chain 91 connected to the otherend to a pulley mounted on shaft 49. Both pairs of rotatable shafts 47and 47a and 49 and 49a are connected by means of intermeshing gears asshown in FIG. 1 by reference number 92. Also, the same take-off fromreducer 274 mounts wheel 288 and chain 290 to rotate shaft 292 which isconnected to a bevel gear 294. Bevel gear 294 meshes with furtherbevel'gear 296, which is mounted at one end of the central drive shaft238, as will be seen with regard to FIG. 9 describing a furtherembodiment.

Referring now to a further embodiment of this invention, the apparatusshown in FIGS. 3 to 9 is a variation of the apparatus of FIGS. 1 and 2,wherein there is included an upper and lower system of feedingcommodities to a wrapping device. In these Figures, like referencenumerals have been used to designate like parts described in FIGS. 1 and2, with regard to the first advancing means on the upper and lowersystems i.e. the conveyor 202 and its related components, the wrappingdevice, including elevator platform 138-, and the wrapper feedingmechanism, etc.

As will be seen in FIGS. 3 to 7, the upper and lower systems comprisespaced-apart identical feeding systems, vertically aligned with eachother.

The means for selecting and advancing a commodity from alignedcommodities on each of the upper and lower systems is in principle thesame as that shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, and each system includes'asupporting surface 320 with fingers 322 downwardly projecting therefrom,each finger 322 being adapted to be inserted into a guide channeldefined by guides 216 for selecting and advancing a predetermined numberof commodities.

Each of the upper and lower systems include means for preventingunselected commodities from advancing on the conveyor 202 comprising apivotally mounted arm 324 and flat supporting plate 328. The arms 324operate in unison through connecting arm 329.

The second means for advancing and selecting a predetermined number ofcommodities is driven by a central drive system as describedhereinafter. This component includesarm 342 operating in conjunctionwith an eccentric cam which drives rod 332 connected at one end theretoand at the other end, through linkage 339, to supporting surface 320through pivot 334, thereby serving to lower and raise the fingers 322 ofthe selecting and advancing means of the lower system. Rod 332' isconnected to the rod 332 through a suitable linkage at one end thereof,and at the other end, through linkage 339 to the supporting arm 320 ofthe upper system through pivot 334' therefor, whereby the selecting andadvancing means of the upper system operates in unison with that of thelower system system. the manner just described.

Also connected to common drive system is arm 330, through a pivot point344 and a further linkage to an eccentric cam, serving to cause forwardand reverse movements of the supporting surface 320 of the lower systemin the manner described with respect to FIGS. 1 and 2. A further linkagesystem comprising arm 345 driven by the same eccentric can as arm 330,connecting rod 347 andarm 349, serves to cause forward and reversemovement of arm 351 connectedto the supporting surface 320 of the upperadvancing system. In this manner, both the advancing and selecting meansof the upper and lower systems operate in unison.

The selecting and advancing means of the lower system operates to supplya pre-determined number of aligned commodities to a sheet wrapper in amanner identical to that described with respect to the apparatus ofFIGS. 1 and 2. The selecting and advancing means of the upper systemoperates in conjunction with several additional components, now to bedescribed. A supporting surface defined by a pair of horizontal supportplates 353 and 353a are mounted in the same plane as conveyor 202 of theupper system, and in operative relationship to the supporting plate 328thereof. Plates 353 and 353a are displaceable by means of pistonassemblies 355 and 355a, each connected to the plates through connectingplates 357 and 357a, and operate along guides 359 and 359a. Plates 353and 3530 thus serve as removable retaining and supporting means forreceiving and supporting a predetermined number of selected commoditiesby the upper selecting and advancing system.

Operating in conjunction with receiving and supporting plates 353 arevarious components for taking control of an aligned array of commoditiesof the plates 353 and 353a, and for placing the array into operativerelationship into second receiving and retaining means. The first meansfor taking control of the array comprises in this embodiment a pluralityof suction cups 361, mounted on supporting head 353, each suction cupbeing adapted to take control of an individual commodity of the alignedarray. Supporting head 353 is mounted by means of supports 365 and 367to a pair of vertically aligned guides 369 whereby the supporting headis movable in a vertical direction. Movement is caused by a pistonassembly indicated by reference numeral 371 connected to the supportinghead 363. Suitable means for creating suction to the suction cups 361 isalso provided.

The second receiving and supporting means comprises a pair ofspaced-apart supporting surfaces 373 and 373a, spaced vertically belowand aligned with supporting surfaces 353 and 353a. Plates 373 and 373aare movable by means of piston assemblies 375 and 375a connected to thesupporting plates through connecting plates 377 and 377a and operatingon guides 379 and 379a. Thus, supporting plates 373 and 373a areseparable, whereby a commodity placed thereon may be lowered injuxtaposition to an array of commodities advanced by the selecting andadvancing means of the lower feeding system onto a wrapper blank in themanner described with respect to FIGS. 1 and 2, by actuating pistonassemblies 375 and 375a to remove the. supporting plates and permit thearray to drop down onto the array advanced by the lower feeding assemblylocated on the wrapper at the upper station.

Referring now to FIGS. 6 to 8 in conjunction with the apparatus shown inFIG. 3, the commodity selecting and advancing means of the upper andlower systems is shown in the various stages of operation. In FIG. 3,the commodity advancing and selecting means is shown at the position itassumes at the beginning of a cycle in the operation of selecting andadvancing a predetermined number of commodities i.e. the commodityengaging fingers 322 supported by supports 320, are in a positionwhereby upon rotation of an eccentric cam of the central drive systemand movement thereby of arm 342, rod 332 will cause supporting surface320 to move downwardly and thus select a predetermined number ofcommodities in each of the guide channels defined by guides 216 toassume the position shown in FIG. 6.

The central drive system operating arms 345, 349 and 351, will thencause the fingers engaging the commodities to advance the selectednumber of commodities the desired length to place the commodities onsupporting surface 353 and onto wrapper blank W, as shown in FIG. 7. Ina subsequent operation, rods 332 and 332 will cause supporting surface320 to rise at the end of the stroke as shown in FIG. 8, while arm 351then moves the supporting surface 320 back to the initial position, asshown in FIG. 5.

At the time of forward movement of the supporting surfaces 320,supporting arms 324 with supporting surface 328 operating together inunison through connect: ing rod 329, are lowered from their raisedposition (as shown in FIG. 3) to a vertical position (as shown in FIGS.6 and 7) thus permitting the commodities to be advanced onto thesupporting surface 353 and the wrapper blank W, and thus lowering thebarrier means which prevented the commodities from advancing on theconveyor 202 prematurely. As will be seen in FIGS. 3 and 7, thesupporting surfaces 328 of the lower feed system also serves to holddown one side edge of the wrapper W in order to permit the commoditiesto easily slide onto the wrapper.

As will be seen in FIGS. 6 to 8, and for the purposes of starting up theoperation, an array of commodities is placed on the supporting plates373 and 373a. Thus, while the upper and lower feed systems are advancinga predetermined number of commodities onto the supporting surfaces 353and 353a, and the wrapper W, the commodity which was on supportingsurfaces 373 and 373a is lowered into juxtaposition with the commodityplaced on the wrapper W by piston assembly 375 and 375a being actuatedto remove the supporting surface 373 and 373a from supporting thecommodity thereon, whereby it is lowered and placed on top of thecommodity on the wrapper W. Subsequently, the first commodity placingmeans including suction cups 361 are lowered into juxtaposition with thecommodity placed on closed supporting surfaces 353 and 353a, wherebythey assume control of the commodity (as illustrated in FIG. 7) andpiston assemblies 355 and 355a subsequently displace the surfaces 353and 353a whereupon a first commodity placing means lowers the commodityonto supporting surfaces 373 and 373a, which were returned to acommodity supporting position by piston assembly 375 and 375a afterplacing a commodity in juxtaposition with the commodity on the wrapper Wadvanced by the lower feed system.

The operation of the single feed system illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 iscarried out in a similar manner as that described above, with theexception that there is no feeding to an intermediate platform, butrather, the single feed system merely advances a commodity directly ontothe wrapper W.

The central control and drive system of the apparatus will now bedescribed with particular reference to FIG. 9. This central controlsystem operates various components of the apparatus of this invention intimed intermittent sequence.

The electric motor 270. rotates, in a previously described manner, themain drive shaft 238 by rotating bevel gear 296. Mounted on shaft 238are a plurality of eccentric cams. One of these cams, 407, moves pusherarm 404, which in turn is pivotally mounted to rod 402 rigidly connectedto a cross-member 406. Crossmember 406 in turn is connected to slidingrod 156 of the commodity advancing assembly at the lower station. Asshown in FIG. 9, the commodity advancing assembly preferably comprisestwo spaced-apart slidable piston rods whereby connecting rod 406operates both in unison through a forward and return stroke.

The elevator platform 138, as previously mentioned, is lowered andraised in the downward and upward return stroke, by means of arm 246connecting to the elevator platform by linkage 248. Arm 246 is moved byan eccentric cam 408 journalled on the shaft 238.

The means for selecting and advancing a predetermined number ofcommodities on the conveyor belts, previously described are actuated bymeans of arms 330 and 351 being moved by an eccentric cam 410

1. An apparatus for aligning and selectively feeding a commodity, from aplurality of such commodities, to a wrapping device comprising firstadvancing means for advancing a plurality of commodities in a directiontoward the wrapping device, means for aligning said commodities, whileadvancing in the one direction, into predetermined alignment, selectingmeans for selecting a predetermined number of aligned commodities,second advancing means for advancing the selected commodities in the onedirection and presenting said commodities to the wrapping device, saidsecond advancing means advancing said commodities in the one directionto said wrapping device at a rate faster than the advancement of saidcommodities by said first advancing means in the one direction, andmeans for preventing unselected commodities from advancing to saidwrapping device when said second advancing means is not advancing saidselected commodities.
 1. An apparatus for aligning and selectivelyfeeding a commodity, from a plurality of such commodities, to a wrappingdevice comprising first advancing means for advancing a plurality ofcommodities in a direction toward the wrapping device, means foraligning said commodities, while advancing in the one direction, intopredetermined alignment, selecting means for selecting a predeterminednumber of aligned commodities, second advancing means for advancing theselected commodities in the one direction and presenting saidcommodities to the wrapping device, said second advancing meansadvancing said commodities in the one direction to said wrapping deviceat a rate faster than the advancement of said commodities by said firstadvancing means in the one direction, and means for preventingunselected commodities from advancing to said wrapping device when saidsecond advancing means is not advancing said selected commodities.
 2. Anapparatus for aligning and selectively feeding a commodity, from aplurality of such commodities, to a wrapping device comprising firstadvancing means for advancing a plurality of commodities, alignmentmeans for arranging said commodities into predetermined alignment,selecting means for selecting a predetermined number of alignedcommodities, second advancing means for advancing said selectedcommodities to a wrapping device at a rate faster than the advancementof said commodities by said first advancing means, means for preventingunselected commodities from advancing past a leading point past whichsaid selected commodities would be advanced by said second advancingmeans, and means for operating said first and second advancing means,said selecting means, and said means for preventing unselectedcommodities from advancing in time related sequence whereby alignedcommodities on said first advancing means are selected, said secondadvancing means advances the selected commodities to a wrapping deviceand said means for preventing advancement of unselected commoditiesprevents further commodities from advancing while said second means isnot advancing the selected commodities.
 3. An apparatus as defined inclaim 2 wherein said first advancing means includes means for sensingthe feed of the commodities, said sensing means operable in conjunctionwith said second advancing means whereby said second advancing means isinoperable when said first advancing means does not advance anycommodities.
 4. An apparatus, as defined in claim 2, wherein said firstadvancing means comprises a supporting surface for supporting saidcommodities, means for advancing commodities on said supporting surfaceto said second advancing means.
 5. An apparatus as defined in claim 2wherein said second advancing means comprises means for engaging apredetermined number of commodities on said first advancing means, meansfor operating said engaging means for advancing said engaging means to awrapping apparatus, means for disengaging said engaging means from anadvanced array of commodities, and means for returning said engagingmeans for engaging further commodities.
 6. An apparatus as defined inclaim 2 wherein said first advancing means comprises a moveablesupporting surface, a plurality of guide channels on said supportingsurface in the direction of advancement of said first advancing means,said selecting means comprising a plurality of commodity engaging meansmounted above said supporting surface, each commodity engaging meansadapted to engage a plurality of aligned commodities in each of theguide channels, means for lowering said plurality of commodity engagingmeans in unison into engagement with a predetermined number ofcommodities on said guide channel, said second advancing means beingadapted to advance said plurality of commodity engaging means when inengagement with said commodities at a predetermined rate of speed fasterthan the rate of speed of said first advancing means, means for removingsaid commodity engaging means from commodity engaging position when saidsecond advancing means has advanced said commodities to a wrappingapparatus, and means for returning said commodity engaging means to acommodity engaging position on said supporting surface.
 7. An apparatusas defined in claim 2 wherein said means for preventing unselectedcommodities from advancing comprises barrier means, means for actuatingsaid barrier means into commodity engaging position on said firstadvancing means, and means for removing said barrier means fromcommodity engaging position, said barrier actuating and removing meansoperating in conjunction with said second advancing means whereby saidbarrier actuating means prevents commodities from advancing on saidfirst advancing means when said second advancing means is not advancingcommodities.
 8. An apparatus for aligning and selectively feeding acommodity, from a plurality of such commodities, to a wrapping device,said apparatus comprising a pair of spaced apart upper and lowercommodity feeding systems, each system being adapted to supply an arrayof commodities to the wrapping device, and including first advancingmeans for advancing a plurality of commodities toward said wrappingapparatus, means for aligning a plurality of commodities into an alignedarray while being advanced by said first advancing means, said lowersystem including second advancing and selecting means for selecting andfeeding to said wrapping apparatus, in the feeding direction of saidfirst advancing means a predetermined number of the aligned array ofcommodities at a speed greater than the speed of advancement of thecommodities by said first advancing means, said upper system includinGsecond advancing and selecting means for advancing and selecting, in thefeeding direction of said first advancing means, a predetermined numberof the aligned array of commodities at a speed greater than the speed ofadvancement of said first advancing means, said upper and lower systemseach including means for preventing unselected aligned commodities fromadvancing past a leading point at which said commodities would beadvanced by said second means, first retaining and supporting means forreceiving the selected advanced aligned array from said second means ofsaid upper system, second retaining means for retaining and supporting aselected aligned array, said second retaining and supporting means beinglocated in operative relationship to said first retaining and supportingmeans and to the point of advancement of an aligned array by said secondadvancing means of said lower system, first placing means for placing aselected aligned array from said first retaining and supporting meansonto said second retaining and supporting means, second placing meansfor placing an aligned array from said second retaining and supportingmeans into juxtaposition with an array of commodities advanced by saidsecond advancing means from said lower system, means for operating saidsecond advancing means of said upper and lower systems in unison wherebysaid lower system advances a selected aligned array to said wrappingapparatus and said second advancing means of said upper system advancesa selected aligned array to said first supporting means, means foractuating said second placing means and said second advancing means ofsaid lower system in unison whereby said second placing means places aselected aligned array from said second retaining means in juxtapositionwith an advanced array from said second system, and means for operatingsaid first placing means in conjunction with said second placing meanswhereby said first placing means places a selected aligned commodityfrom said first retaining means onto said second retaining means aftersaid second placing means has removed an array therefrom.
 9. Anapparatus as defined in claim 8 wherein said first retaining andsupporting means comprises a support surface in operative relationshipto said second advancing means of said upper system, said secondretaining means comprising a supporting surface in operativerelationship to said first retaining means, and means for transferringan aligned array on said first retaining means to said second retainingmeans.
 10. An apparatus as defined in claim 8 wherein the means fortransferring a commodity from said first retaining means to said secondretaining means comprises means for engaging a commodity on said firstretaining means, means for lowering said commodity from said firstretaining means to said second retaining means.
 11. An apparatus asdefined in claim 10 wherein the first and second retaining meanscomprises moveable supporting plates, said apparatus including means forremoving said supporting plates from supporting a commodity, said lastmentioned means operating in conjunction with means for transferring acommodity whereby said means for transferring a commodity from saidfirst to said second retaining means engages a commodity on said firstretaining means, and said first retaining means is moved from supportinga commodity.
 12. An apparatus as defined in claim 8 wherein said meansfor operating said first and second advancing means, said selectingmeans and said means for preventing unselected commodities fromadvancing comprises a single drive means, eccentrically mounted cams onsaid drive means, and means connecting said eccentrically mounted drivemeans to said first and second advancing means, said selecting means andsaid means for preventing said commodities from advancing.
 13. Anapparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein said second advancing means ofsaid upper and lower systems are connected to common drive means, saiddrive means operating said sEcond advancing of systems in unison, andcomprising reciprocating drive means adapted to advance and return saidsecond advancing systems a predetermined distance.
 14. An apparatus asdefined in claim 3 wherein there are provided common drive means foroperating said upper and lower systems in unison, and comprising a driveshaft, an eccentric cam mounted on said drive shaft and connected tosaid second advancing and selecting means, a further cam on said drivesystem connected to said means for preventing unselected commoditiesfrom advancing.
 15. An apparatus as defined in claim 14, wherein saidselecting and advancing means of said lower system is connected to saidcam, said selecting and advancing means of said upper system beingconnected to said selecting and advancing means of said lower systemwhereby said upper and lower systems operate in unison.